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{
    "id": 191952,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/191952/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 166,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musyimi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 95,
        "legal_name": "Mutava Musyimi",
        "slug": "mutava-musyimi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, allow me to add my voice to those that have commended the hon. Minister for his tax proposals. I think we have every reason to be proud as a country that we are able to fund our expenditure largely from our own income. June 26, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1461 Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I think the issue I want to raise is, perhaps, rather global. This is in the sense that Kenyan people are very highly taxed. I do not think that, that is a secret. The only way we can justify this kind of a situation is by making sure that the quality of the lives of our people is improved, given the kind of taxes they have to pay. I am not in doubt, myself, that some of the issues that will address this problem will be addressed through the public sector reform process, the Constitution review process, as we seek to properly rationalise our public institutions, and many other processes that we need to undertake as a country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I think more and more that the ratio between the Recurrent Expenditure and Development Vote needs to be looked at very keenly. I think it would be a very sad thing to accept a situation where much of our money goes into people's salaries. That has a lot to do with a fairly bloated public service. These are not easy questions because reforms are never easy. However, I cannot imagine that we are going to fix this country properly if we do not look at the ratio the Recurrent Expenditure to the kind of money that goes to the development agenda. What goes into health? How much goes into roads? How much goes into education? How much goes into providing irrigation and that sort of thing? Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I am glad to see these tax proposals. I am also pleased to hear that we are going to have more input in terms of the sort of budgetary process we will have in future. Quite a bit has been said about the Budget Bill. I am glad to hear that the hon. Minister is in support of this process, so that there is greater participation by this House and the public. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, the basic point that I want to make is that we have reason to be very proud. I think those responsible for collecting revenue have been very good at it. Let us make sure that we show justification for these high taxes by raising the quality of lives of our people and the way the Government uses money to improve social services. Thank you."
}